Illegal loggers stripping Burma's forests - report

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THE huge demand for timber in China has fuelled a surge in
illegal logging in northern Burma  more than a million cubic
tonnes last year  despite the knowledge of the Burmese regime
and the Chinese Government.

Two-thirds of Burmese timber exports are illegal, according to a
new report by Global Witness, a London-based organisation that
monitors logging in South-East Asia. Most of that timber goes to
China.

The Burmese regime claims it allowed only 18,000 cubic tonnes of
wood to be exported to China last year and there is only one legal
border point for timber crossing to China. However, the authors of
A Choice for China: Ending the Destruction of Burma's Northern
Frontier Forests say there are up to 20 points along the border
where timber trucks cross freely into China.

The illegal trade costs the Burmese people an estimated $A190
million in lost taxes.

"Money is paid in corruption to Burmese army leaders, Chinese
logging companies, but most of the profit goes to investors on the
China side," Global Witness spokeswoman Susanne Kempel said.

The group estimates that one truck, carrying 15 tonnes of
illegally logged timber, crosses at a Chinese checkpoint every
seven minutes, 24 hours a day, every day.

"This is not smuggling of timber. It is out in the open and
tagged by timber merchants along the border," Ms Kempel said. In
2001 the Chinese Government made a bilateral commitment to deal
with the logging violations, but the illegal trade has jumped 60
per cent in the past three years, the report said. "Now there is no
forest left along the border, they are moving 50 to 120 kilometres
from it," Ms Kempel said.

On the Chinese side of the border, the trees are protected by
national parks.

Ms Kempel estimates more than 20,000 Chinese loggers are running
the trade, and the timber, including teak, is taken to Shanghai and
Guangxiong for reprocessing and domestic use.

"About one-third of timber is re-exported. So some of this
timber ends up in Taiwan, Japan, the US and the EU, probably with a
wrong certification that it is mainland Chinese, not Burmese," Ms
Kempel said.

Global Witness has called on the Chinese Government to close
down the border for timber trade until it can be sure the timber
crossing is legal.